We have allergies and are looking to balance air flow through out the house and most inportantly clean the air!
2006-09-19 12:49:22 · 7 answers · asked by Jon S 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Not enough info here.... as someone else has pointed out... one story, or two, and basement, crawlspace, what? Im assuming you do not have a forced air furnace?
If you have only a single story, I would recommend running the ducts either under the floor, or thru the attic. Which would be easier, really depends on how much space you have to work with in each area... if possible tho, I'd run it under the floor, and insulate it. (Put down a vapor barrier too, if you do not have one)
If you have a 2 story home, I'd run 1st floor underneath, and 2nd floor thru attic. You can easily add an insulated trunk, and run it up the outside of the home, to the attic space. No interior wall tearouts this way. You MIGHT want to go so far as to consider adding on a "utility"/mud room. Literally, add a room on to the home, and place the new central heat and air in there...with the ductwork running up to attic, and/or down to floor space.
Lets not forget air returns either... you must have return air to a forced air system. This does NOT mean, tho, that you must have a return air duct in every room! You can have a central location on each floor for air return (the wall of the added room would be ideal for this). Mobile and modular homes are made this way. They get air circulation by providing gaps below doors, or by placing a vent grill on either side of the wall, just above the doors. The central air blows air into the room via the ducts, and it is forced thru doorways, or the vents above them, thru open rooms, and back to the central return location(s).
In either case, I would seriously suggest that you contact the local HVAC suppliers/contractors to see what is available. Central heat and air systems today are SOOOO much more efficient. I do know there are some systems made to run thru the attic, that use a very small circular vent, thru the ceiling. All 'manufactured housing' runs the vents thru the floor space...only the inferior quality homes run the vents down the center of the trailer, lol. And don't forget to ask about HEPA filters. In the meantime, invest in an air purifier...you'll breathe easier!
IF it does become necessary to run some ductwork thru the walls, try to cordon off the area, with plastic to reduce the dust in the air. When I was traveling with my work crews, that was the first thing we did... throw down plastic, (and make plastic curtains for areas where we were really messy, lol). Plastic sheeting is cheap... much easier to clean up after a job, when you take the time to minimize the mess... and the homeowners are so much happier.
Good Luck!
2006-09-19 19:35:56 · answer #1 · answered by thewrangler_sw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, not a lot of iformation in your question - one story or two; attic: basement?
You can run a duct system through the floors of the ground floor is the house is not built on a slab. The return air duct system can go the same way - underneath.
If it's a single story house, you could also get a package heat pump sytem (for heating and cooling) and run all the ductwork in the attic.
This type of stuff is done by HVAC contractors every day - call them and get it done -you'll save money in the long run.
2006-09-19 20:00:47 · answer #2 · answered by gabluesmanxlt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might consider bringing the ductwork through a closet, and putting vent into the wall just above the door, or even making the door shorter and putting the duct work in at the top.
It will be different, but if done properly, it should solve the problem.
2006-09-20 00:24:14 · answer #3 · answered by richard Alvarado 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you trying to install central heat/A/C?
Or just wanting vents between rooms?
To run ductwork for a central heat/cooling unit is a huge job.
Unless you have experience with sheetmetal work, it's best left to professionals.
2006-09-19 19:59:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need someone who is good at sealing duckwork so it doesn't leak, but they will have to box the ducks in a cornor if u have 2 floor in home, just call & get a free quote some where
2006-09-19 19:55:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh.. you will have a job on your hands. I do not think that it would bes a good do it yourself undertaking.. That will require some major work.
2006-09-19 19:51:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you 'cheat' and do the work through the ceiling and/or floor?
2006-09-19 19:55:48 · answer #7 · answered by larry n 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋